Leader of Ansar Killed?

Conflicting reports of the death of the top leader of Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis Shadi al-Menei are currently circulating by security sources and local media. Further, according to a message released by the terrorist group, not only was al-Menei not killed, but he is also not their leader.

The incident reportedly took place during clashes between security forces and insurgents on Friday. In the firefight six insurgents, including Shadi al-Menei, were allegedly killed.

His death was then confirmed by high-ranking officials after security forces opened fire on the men as they were in a car in central Sinai that was allegedly on its way to blow up a gas pipeline, officials said, according to Agence France Presse.

Shortly thereafter the terrorist group released a statement saying, "They announce the death of the brother jihadist Shadi al-Menei and that he is the head of the group while he was not killed and was not a leader," according to Reuters.

Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis have claimed responsibility for a series of attacks throughout Egypt since Mohamed Morsi was forces out of power, amid a long-standing turf war between them and security forces in Sinai.

Among the attacks claimed by the group was the attack on the Dakahlia Security Directorate, which prompted the government to declare the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group on December 25, 2013.